By Eric Wolf Schoen
If I was looking for someone to go out and get a beer with, George Latimer would be my choice of the many elected officials I know. And he seems like the kind of guy who would pick up the tab. George is like an Everready bunny up all hours of the night. While drinking your beer He would engage you not about the virtues of buying silver and gold, but of some interesting topic that would entertain you!
A week from this coming Tuesday morning, every Democrat in New York Congressional District 16 must wake up and make sure that they have done one of two things. Either Cast their vote for George Latimer during early voting that starts this Saturday. Or allocated time in their schedules to visit their polling station to make George Latimer becomes the next Congressman representing NY 16.
We need to send someone with integrity to represent us in Washington. And we have to make sure we are represented by someone who reflects our values and the needs of the .community in the halls of Congress. After we cast our ballot we need to call all our neighbors, relatives and friends, basically everyone we know who is a Democrat and make sure they have done what we have done.
We simply cannot continue to have someone embarrass us in the halls of Congress like we have today. Pulling a fire alarm could have god forbid hurt someone trying to get out of the building or caused the loss of life. This behavior is totally unacceptable for a 2 year old, let alone a member of the House of Representatives.
The other day the current Congressman attended a Church function at WESTCHESTER Manor in Shorts, sneakers and a polo shirt. Disgraceful! Now I don’t think George’s clothes are from Hart Shaffner and Marx, but he has enough common sense to dress respectively for a church event.
As we go to press George Latimer is up 17 Points in the latest poll of the Congressional race. I I never trust polls. They should be used as tools to make you work harder, not as a device to rest your laurels on. The work has just begun. So make sure if you support George like I do that you recharge yourself and get ready to dig in.
I was introduced to C.E. Latimer by then Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer when she was elected to the State Assembly. Right before Election Day the two of them would attend a Candidate’s Reception Friends of Yonkers Public Library would sponsor to introduce candidates running for office to the voters. I would always engage the CE with questions which he would answer promptly showing his support of our libraries and the WESTCHESTER Library System. I friended him on Facebook and would find him posting comments in the wee small hours of the morning from Denny’s restaurant in Albany!
Now I was jealous. My favorite pancakes were the Regular pancakes, 2 for $2 that I would buy from Denny’s while on the Jersey Shore. 2 pancakes satisfied me, and I always felt their pancakes were the best pancakes compared with more expensive Diner pancakes.. George was always alone munching away, and I would often engage him in conversation no matter what time of night it was via the Facebook platform. He seemed extremely knowledgeable .
Let’s face it, Albany is not the most exciting place to be anytime of the year, and winters are brutal. I remember saying to Shelly Mayer one day that Albany is a calling. It doesn’t have the glitz of say Washington, D. C. And years ago the salaries were not that great. I had George on my Radio Show on WVOX, and I noticed how engaged he was with our conversation and the callers to the station.
Fast forward to George’s run against Rob Astorino. A debate was held at Iona College between incumbent Rob and George. I never saw a more poorly run debate than that one. Astorino had gathered together a pack of animals to boo George and sing Astorino’s praises. The Iona administrators sat there and did nothing to calm down the animals. It was the worst political debate I had ever seen. I felt sorry for George. Sadly some of the animals had l
Civil Service protection so it was impossible to fire them on the sport.
George has done a lot in a little over 6 years as County Executive. Just recently he re-authorized free bus service for the county. This is a big thing for people with no car and people who could not afford the congestion pricing piece thankfully on hold. Many WESTCHESTER buses are electric good for the environment.
He supports term limits and has promised he will follow through on his commitment unlike some other big city in WESTCHESTER where they changed the charter without public vote.
Israel doesn’t have to worry that George Latimer will not be her friend. He won’t waffle trying to please all sides and try to work with his colleagues to come up with a solution amenable to all.
Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and support of our men in military will be high on his agenda. He understands how important the rebuilding of the infrastructure of this country is and will support the requisite dollars needed to make sure we have clean drinking water.
George won’t be a television celebrity like the current congressman and will spend his time on the people’s agenda. He has served our County for so many years that we know where he is coming from. There will be no surprises when George Latimer goes to Congress. He is an open book, not as exciting as the current congressman but he knows how to get things done.
And take my word, George Latimer knows what a fire alarm is. He needs no on the job training and will listen to people’s needs versus have them listen to his.
Don’t take the polls for granted friends. You know what you have to do to get George Latimer elected and once again our congressional district will be a place we
can be proud to call home.
Good Luck George!
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@aol.com, or friend him on Facebook Eric Schoen…just look for him in the picture with Joan Rivers!
